All clear at UMass Boston after unconfirmed report of shooting prompts evacuations

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The all-clear was given at UMass Boston after a report of a shooting brought out a massive number of first responders Thursday — no confirmation of gunfire was found.

Boston police said there was no confirmation of any gunfire or people with guns on campus, and UMass Boston later announced that there was no threat.

The investigation was ongoing, police said an hour after the initial report at 3:43 p.m., and urged the public to keep away for the time being. After the all-clear was given, Massachusetts State Police said they would continue investigating and asked anyone with information about the incident to report it.

UMass Boston classes and activities were canceled for the remainder of the day — Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco said later the move was made out of an abundance of caution.

"We know how unsettling this incident was, especially for those on campus who experienced the large public safety response and campus-wide sweep, as well as for all of your families, friends, and loved ones. Thank you for your patience, cooperation, and resilience during this difficult moment," Suárez-Orozco said.

Students on campus described getting alerts about potential threats and seeing law enforcement flood onto campus — some were seen running from a residence hall early on as the situation unfolded.

"My friend was going to his class and when he was on the bottom floor, he saw cops with rifles, so he ran back up to warn us and then we barricaded the door and hid in the bathroom," one said.

Bailey Gudz said, "As soon as I saw the police, like, taking people down the stairs, I started sobbing."

Students at UMass Boston described the moments after they got alerts about a possible incident that prompted evacuations Thursday, leading to evacuations. One noted that it was September 11, highlighting the significance of the alert.

Student Makay Salazar was hiding in a room and thought a gunman might have been outside, before realizing it was a police officer there to clear the area.

"I was fearing for my life, you know? I was in survival mode. The entire time, I was thinking, 'What's the best decision?'" he said.

Many of the students were wondering how to go back to normal after such a chaotic, intense day.

"I was playing the saxophone, bro. I can’t play the saxophone without thinking I’m going to die?" one said. "I can’t have my friends around me without thinking I’m going to die? I live here- I can’t be in my house without thinking I’m going to die?!"

Other incidents at universities

It's the second massive police response at a University of Massachusetts campus in two weeks. Last week, on the first day of classes at UMass Lowell, a person with what appeared to be a gun prompted a lockdown. Later, the apparent weapon was confirmed to be an airsoft replica gun, and the person who was carrying it, a youth was identified. It wasn't clear if he would face charges.

And there were other unfounded reports of shootings on college campuses nationwide on Thursday, as there have been in recent weeks.

Thursday's incident also comes in the wake of the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on a university campus in Utah. The manhunt for his killer continued on Thursday.

Thursday was also the 24th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

How the UMass Boston incident unfolded

UMass Boston initially urged the public to avoid part of its campus amid what it described as a "police incident," and later a "public safety threat."

It wasn't immediately clear what took place, or if anyone was hurt — the school said on social media that it would share more information later. Massachusetts State Police said there was an unconfirmed report of a shooting.

An initial UMass Boston post on X said an incident was at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate. Follow-ups said there was an incident, then a "public safety threat," at a residence hall.

A large police presence seen at the UMass Boston dorm Residence Hall West on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. NBC10 Boston NBC10 Boston

A large police presence seen at the UMass Boston dorm Residence Hall West on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025.

A large number of first responders was at the scene, and Boston EMS confirmed it was heading to the area for "a potential incident."

Massachusetts State Police said they have responded to "an unconfirmed report of a shooting on campus."